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St. Valerian was born circa 377. He served as a bishop in Africa. He refused to give sacred vessels to vandals who demanded them; they left him in the street to die circa 457.

Peter Boyle, who was once a Christian Brother before he pursued a career in acting, died Dec. 12 at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Boyle, 71, had been suffering from multiple myeloma and heart disease. Boyle became familiar to U.S. television audiences as perpetually cranky Frank Barone, the father of Ray Barone, on the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” (1996-2005). The show lasted nine seasons, filming 201 episodes.

St. John of the Cross was born in Spain in 1542. He became a Lay Carmelite brother at age 21 and a Carmelite priest at age 25. Following the advice of St. Teresa of Avila, he began the Discalced reforms in his order. His changes aided in the revitalization of his order. He died Dec. 14, 1591. This contemplative and spiritual writer was named a doctor of the church in 1926. St. John of the Cross is patron saint of contemplatives, mystics and Spanish poets.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast honors the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparitions to Juan Diego in December 1531 in Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe is patron saint of Mexico and the Americas in general.

St. Damasus I was born circa 306 in Rome. A priest, he was elected the 37th pope in 366. This election also saw the rise of anti-pope Ursinus. The pope was opposed to Arianism and Apollinarianism. He commissioned St. Jerome to do a translation of Scripture, which is now called the Vulgate. Damsus restored shrines, martyrs’ tombs and catacombs. He died Dec. 11, 384, in Rome. St. Damasus is patron saint of archeologists.

St. Juan Diego was born in Cuauhtitlan (in modern-day Mexico) in 1474. This poor farm worker converted to Christianity when he was about 50 years old. The Virgin Mary appeared to him at Guadalupe in December 1531. This image of her became known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. He died in 1548. Juan Diego was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast honors the Virgin Mary, who was conceived without original sin. Pope Pius IX declared the Immaculate Conception to be an official dogma of the Catholic Church in 1854. It is a holy day of obligation.

St. Ambrose of Milan was born in Gaul (modern-day Germany) circa 340. He tried to mediate a dispute over the replacement for the bishop of Milan after the bishop died. Both sides were so impressed with Ambrose that he was chosen to become bishop. Ambrose was baptized, ordained a priest and made a bishop Dec. 7, 374. He gave his money to the church and the poor. He aided in the conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo. Ambrose is known as the “honey tongued doctor” due to his great preaching skills. He died in 397. He is patron saint of beekeepers.

St. Bibiana was a virgin and martyr. Although there is very little information about her, one account says she lived during the time Julian the Apostate. Julian persecuted Christians, including Bibiana and her family. Her parents and her sister were persecuted and died. Bibiana was tortured to death. St. Bibiana is patron saint of torture victims.

St. Andrew the Apostle, a fisherman, followed St. John the Baptist until St. John pointed to Jesus and called him the Lamb of God. After that, Andrew followed Jesus and knew he was the Messiah. Andrew brought his brother Simon (who became St. Peter) to Jesus. Jesus told them they would be fishers of men. After Jesus’ resurrection, Andrew preached in Greece. He was martyred. St. Andrew is patron saint of Russia and Scotland.